What are the standard dimensions of a parking space?
2 Answers
According to the "Specifications for Setting On-Street Parking Spaces on Urban Roads", the standard dimensions of general parking spaces are determined based on vehicle size. Small vehicle spaces typically measure 2.5~2.7m × 5~6m, with single-lane turnaround lanes requiring a minimum width of 3.5m and dual-lanes needing at least 5m. Turnaround sections should accommodate single-vehicle U-turns, and for safety or medium/large vehicles, spaces are often set at 6m or more. Details are as follows: For vehicles (length ≤6m, width ≤1.8m): The minimum spacing between vehicles should be no less than 0.5m, and the distance between vehicles and walls or space ends should also be no less than 0.5m. For vehicles (6m12m; single side if 8-12m; prohibited if <8m. For one-way roads: both sides if >9m; single side if 6-9m; prohibited if <6m. For disabled parking: at least 2% of total spaces should be accessible, with minimum 1 space when total exceeds 20. Parking space marking colors: White: Paid parking; Blue: Free parking; Yellow: Reserved parking; Time-limited spaces: Dashed borders (10cm line width) with permitted hours marked inside (60cm numeral height). Disabled parking spaces: Special markings with yellow grids (120cm width) on both sides indicating no-parking boarding areas. Other vehicles must not occupy these spaces. Surface markings show exclusivity with 20cm outer lines and 45° angled internal lines matching space length. Prohibited locations for on-street parking: Fire lanes, no-parking zones, construction areas; Emergency evacuation routes; Sidewalks (if allowed, must not block tactile paving); Near building entrances; Intersections, railway crossings, sharp curves, narrow roads (<4m), bridges, steep slopes, tunnels, and within 50m of these; Within 30m of bus stops, emergency stations, gas stations, fire hydrants or stations (except for service use); Within 20m of intersection channelization; Utility access points and within 15m; Within 200m of off-street parking lot entrances; Near roadside
As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I always pay attention to size when parking. Typically, a standard car parking space is about 2.5 meters wide and 5 to 5.5 meters long. This design takes into account the safe space needed to open doors and exit the vehicle without hitting neighboring cars or walls. However, in some older residential areas, garages might be narrower, around 2.2 meters wide, making it easy for SUVs to get scratched. New shopping malls generally follow standard regulations and even provide extra-wide spaces for larger vehicles. The dimensions are primarily based on the size of an average sedan plus a buffer distance to ensure smooth reversing. I recommend that beginners choose noticeably larger spaces to avoid fender-benders and make parking less stressful, especially during peak urban hours. Reasonable parking space dimensions can improve overall traffic efficiency and prevent accidents.
